PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Didier Drogba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Da Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Drogba might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Dirty house. Didier Drogba had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Drogba
vs
Da Souza

190 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

184 cm
26
187 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Didier Drogba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Da Souza!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Drogba as Da Souza shoots in.
Drogba throws a push kick but Da Souza slaps the foot to one side.
Da Souza fails to land with a series of punches.
Da Souza shoots in for a takedown but Drogba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Drogba throws a leg kick that misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Drogba.
A leg kick checked by Da Souza.

Drogba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Da Souza looking for a takedown.
Didier Drogba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Da Souza.

Drogba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Drogba wants to land a leg kick but Da Souza is out of range.
Drogba throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Da Souza tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Drogba makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Didier Drogba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Drogba fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Da Souza checks it well.
Da Souza fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Drogba leaves Da Souza with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Drogba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Da Souza jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Drogba walks away with a smile on his face. Da Souza gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A leg kick checked by Da Souza.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Souza shoots and misses
and Drogba counters with a nice leg kick.
Da Souza throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drogba's waist but Drogba gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Da Souza off to one side.

Da Souza changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Drogba looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Da Souza throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Da Souza tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Da Souza is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Drogba has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Drogba manages to work his way to half guard, despite Da Souza's best efforts.

Da Souza is working for a kimura but Drogba is defending it quite comfortably.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Da Souza with the ground and pound but Drogba uses the opportunity to regain guard.

Da Souza avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Drogba keeping moving, preventing Da Souza from controlling successfully.
Da Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Drogba is pulling down on Da Souza's head. It's preventing any offense from Da Souza, at least for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Souza wants to control from the top but Drogba keeps moving.
Da Souza thows a big elbow that misses.
Da Souza slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ricardo Da Souza hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Drogba throws a solid leg kick but Da Souza takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Drogba.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drogba misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Didier Drogba will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Drogba misses with a low kick as Da Souza jumps back.
Da Souza fails with a takedown attempt.

Da Souza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Da Souza must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Da Souza throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Drogba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Da Souza defends it easily.
Da Souza postures up in Drogba's guard and throws a big left but Drogba blocks it.
Da Souza sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Drogba's guard.

Drogba is defending against the submission attempts here by Da Souza.
Da Souza prevents Drogba from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Souza is looking for a kimura here.
Drogba trying to control here.

Da Souza seems to be looking for submissions.

Da Souza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Drogba defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Souza passes to side control.

Da Souza swings around for an armbar but Drogba sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Da Souza's guard.
Da Souza is trying to keep Drogba in close.

Da Souza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Drogba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Drogba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Da Souza keeping moving, preventing Drogba from controlling successfully.
Da Souza throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogba trying to control the position from guard on top but Da Souza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Da Souza working for a triangle but Drogba defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drogba tries to free his leg and advance position but Da Souza is retaining full guard.

Da Souza escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Drogba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Da Souza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Drogba defends it easily.
Da Souza is breathing heavily.
Drogba is stalling in the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Da Souza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Drogba is controlling him.

Drogba postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Da Souza is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Drogba, into his guard.
Drogba preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Drogba keeping moving, preventing Da Souza from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Da Souza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Drogba ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Da Souza scores with a takedown into Drogba's guard.
Da Souza trying to control but Drogba is working from the bottom.
Da Souza trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Drogba can't keep his opponent in guard - Da Souza advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Da Souza throwing shots but Drogba is blocking nicely.
Drogba is trying to control but can't.

Da Souza is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Drogba doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Da Souza.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Da Souza is trying to work for a kimura but Drogba is defending well.
Da Souza wants to lay and pray for a moment but Drogba keeps working.
Drogba wants to improve his position but Da Souza is controlling well.
Da Souza is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Drogba manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Da Souza with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Da Souza accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Drogba looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Da Souza has picked Drogba up and slammed him! Drogba can't keep hold of the triangle and Da Souza manages to pass to side control!
Da Souza working away.

Da Souza looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Da Souza is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Drogba's shoulder. That is not cool.
Da Souza trying to control the position but Drogba is working away.

Da Souza tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Da Souza takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drogba regains half guard, as Da Souza was trying to land strikes.

Da Souza is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Drogba has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ricardo Da Souza has got the better of the ground game so far.
Drogba trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Drogba looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Da Souza is working for a submission of some sort.
Da Souza is just content to waste time from the top position. Drogba takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Da Souza passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Da Souza laying and praying for a moment but Drogba takes advantage and regains half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Da Souza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Da Souza has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricardo Da Souza!